Improvement in wind-engines



W. A. ALDRICH. wlnd-Englnes No. 2075701. Patented Sept. 3, 1878.

W'LChss E5- NJEIERS PNOTOVLH'HOGRAPHER WASHINGTCIN. 0 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. ALDRICH, OF INGERSOLL, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIND-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,701,(lated'Septembcr 3, 1878; application filed April 17, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TM. A. ALDRICH, of Ingersoll, in the county ofClinton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in \Nindmills and I do hereby declare the following to he afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in windmills; and it consists inthe arrangement and combination of devices that will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention.

a represents a suitable derrick, upon the top of which is erected theopen frame-work b. On top of this frame-work b is secured the iron ring0, and inside of this ring is placed the turn-table d, which revolvesaround upon the friction-rollers e, as shown. J ournaled upon thisturn-table is the wheel-shaft f, to which is secured the wheel 9, and tothe extreme outer end of which is fastened the collar IL. The outer edgeof this collar projects beyond the end of the shaft, so as to form aflange, and through this flange are passed the brace-rods i, which havetheir outer ends to pass diagonally through the ends of the radialtimbers of the wheel, where they are secured by nuts. By means of thesebraces the wheel is made very strong and secure, and is always keptstraight.

Should one side of the wheel warp or become become bent in any manner,by tightening the nuts the wheel can be trued up again and made asperfect as before. It will be noticed that these rods are perfectlystraight, so that when the nuts are tightened the strain will comedirectly on the edge of the wheel and force it forward.

Pivoted just over the center of the turntable is the arm j, to which thevane 7c is secured, and this arm is provided with a frictionroller, 0,which supports the vane and travels back and forth over the track Zformed for it on the table.

The inner end of the arm j forms a grooved semicircle, to which arefastened the two ropes or chains or n. The rope m extends backward fromthe wheel over a pulley, and has a weight, 19, fastened to it, and whichdraws the vane back into position again after it has been turned, so asto throw the wheel into the wind. The rope a passes outward over apulley, then downward, and is fastened to the upper end of the rod q,which moves vertically in the hollow part of the piston-rod 1". To thelower end of this rod q is fastened thelever s, by means of a cord, andwhich has the weight t fastened to one end, and the tilting watertroughu to the other. This trough is fastened at one end, so as to hold it inits proper relation to the pump c, while its other end is free to riseand fall, being controlled by the weight t and the amount of waterpumped into it.

As soon as a sufficient quantity of water has been pumped into thetrough to overcome the weight it the free end of the trough sinksdownward, thereby taking all of the weight it from the rod q, when therod at once rises upward, and the weight p throws the vane around intoline with the wheel, thereby turnin g the wheel out of the wind, whenthe pump ceases to work. As soon as the water in the trough has fallenso that its weight no longer overcomes the weight t the free end of thetrough rises, when the long end of the lever sinks downward, and,through the rod q, draws the vane around at right angles to the wheel,thereby throwing the wheel into the wind again. Thus, whenever asufficient quantity of water has been pumped, the wheels stops, and whenthe water sinks below a certain quantity the wheel is brought intoposition again. By making the upper end of the piston-rod hollow, andplacing the rod q therein, the parts aremade compact, and a guide isformed for the rod, so that it is impossible for it to get out ofposition.

To the piston-rod is fastened the collar w, to which the inner end ofthe spring 3 is attached. This spring serves to bear upward against thedownstroke of the piston-rod, and thus cause the wheel to run moreevenly, and not to exert its only power upon the upstroke.

I am aware that braces have been used for strengthening the wheel, and'I do not there fore claim the use of them broadly.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of thepivoted vane 70,

' having a weight, 19, fastened to it on one side,

and a rope or chain, 12, rod q, weighted lever s, and hinged trough u onthe other, substantially as shown.

2. The piston-rod 1", made hollow, so as to receive the rod g, which rodis connected to the vane at its upper end, and the weighted lever at itslower end, substantially as set forth.

3. The collar h, projecting beyond the end of the shaft f, and havingthe rearWardly-inolined braces 73 passed outwardly through it andthrough the outer end of the radial arms of the wheel, and held and madeadjustable by means of nuts on their outer ends, whereby the Wheel iskept straight, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this5th day of April, 1878.

WVILLIAM ADELLBERT ALDRICH.

Witnesses:

Gno. N. BERRY, CHAS. MCALLISIER.

